Unlikely Friendship: Speaking Over Old Promisesનમૂનો

The Shunammite Woman’s story could have very well ended in chapter four with her son’s restoration, but it actually gets better. Time continued to pass, and Elisha visited her again. This time, he brought news of a coming famine, and it’s encouraging to find that he didn’t forget about the friend who had once shown him so much favor.

Although the Bible isn’t clear about how much time had passed between the Shunammite Woman’s problems in chapter four and Elisha’s prophecy in chapter eight, it is clear that friends refuse to forget the kindness and favor they were once shown, regardless of how much time passes.

As we talked about yesterday, it’s easier than ever to find reasons to feel offended in our friendships. After all, if we believe God has a plan for our friendships, we shouldn’t be surprised when those friendships encounter spiritual resistance from the enemy during his attempts to restrict those plans.

Add social media to the mix, and you have the perfect recipe for offense.

Still, it’s through the Shunammite Woman’s friendship with Elisha that we learn that despite the number of years that have passed or the variety of opportunities either person has enjoyed, true friendship remains free of jealousy.

The Shunammite Woman continued to live a quiet life among her people while Elisha went on to accomplish even greater things. We continue to read how Elisha gave Naaman, the Aramean commander, instructions about how to be healed of his leprosy (2 Kings 5). We also read that it was also during this time that Elisha helped King Joram secure a victory over the Arameans by praying that they would be struck with blindness before leading them into the king’s camp (2 Kings 6:8-23).

Yet, we don’t read whether time and ministry permitted Elisha to continue traveling to the Shunammite Woman’s house to rest during his travels ever again.

Godly friendship is free of jealousy, and it serves as a beautiful foundation to release both people to fulfill God’s calling on their lives.

And when Elisha was given an opportunity to help his friend once again, he did. In 2 Kings 8:1-2, Elisha told the Shunammite Woman to go and dwell as a foreigner wherever she and her family could for the duration of the seven-year famine that Samaria’s conflict with Aram would cause.

Because both of these friends lived with integrity, they didn’t have to question or doubt whether the other would be open to receiving instruction or if they should trust the word the Lord had sent. Knowing that God would fulfill His promises through the prophecy as He always had, the Shunammite Woman followed Elisha’s instructions and her family was saved.

Questions for Reflection

1. What restrictions have you placed on your friendships in the past? Do you have to live in the same town, meet for coffee a specific number of times every month, share every ministry opportunity together, etc.?
2. What is God calling you to do in this season, and how can you celebrate your friends who have been called to different opportunities than you?

Prayer

Father God,

I thank You for the many ways You fulfill me. Your friendship is the greatest expression of love I’ve ever experienced. Holy Spirit, would You search my heart and expose the areas of inconsistency, pride, and jealousy I’ve been cultivating toward others lately?

I don’t want to lose the friendships You’ve blessed me with to jealousy or offense. I want to trust that when given the chance, You will bring additional opportunities for us to be a blessing to one another. In the meantime, help me celebrate how You are moving in my friends’ lives as You teach me how to develop new depths of gratitude for that which You’ve called me to in this season. In Your precious son Jesus’ name, amen.